Black Bear

On an early-morning hike in the Great Smoky Mountains, a group surprises a mother black bear - with near-fatal results. Their scout leader is quickly attacked and left lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding steadily from deep lacerations. Now the team must work together to make critical decisions and find the best way to rescue their scout leader. Part of the HRDQ Team Adventure Series, Black Bear introduces the concept of synergy and helps team members to develop vital group-process skills.

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There's one reason why training simulations are a popular choice for team development training. They work. that's because They're an effective way to introduce the concept of synergy and help team members quickly develop vital group-process skills such as consensus decision making, problem solving, communication, and conflict resolution in a nonthreatening learning environment.

Each adventure simulation in HRDQ's Team Adventure Series starts with a suspense-filled scenario that challenges teams to work together to escape danger with only limited resources - and each other. While most people can rest assured knowing they'll never encounter these survival situations, they do experience the similar feelings of stress and conflict that accompany everyday organizational life.

The Black Bear Scenario

On an early-morning hike in the Great Smoky Mountains, a group surprises a mother black bear - with near-fatal results. Their scout leader is quickly attacked and he is left lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding steadily from deep lacerations. Now the group must work together to make vital strategy decisions and find the most effective way to rescue their scout leader.

Following the introduction of the survival scenario, participants are challenged to rank five strategy alternatives and ten backpack items - first as individuals and then a second time as a team. Teams compare their team scores to the best individual score to determine if synergy was achieved. The exercise also includes an introduction to the concept of team synergy and the importance of consensus decision making under pressure.

Black Bear can be used as a standalone training instrument or incorporated into a more comprehensive program on teambuilding. It's also effective as a component for problem-solving and decision-making training programs. Black Bear is an excellent training tool for any team, especially those that must make critical decisions or thrive in a high-pressure environment.

The comprehensive facilitator set includes everything trainers need to deliver Black Bear, including background information, administrative guidelines, a step-by-step workshop outline, expert rationale, frequently asked questions, training template outline, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, and sample participant materials. Facilitator
support materials will be available to you as a digital download link in your
order confirmation.

Bradford R. Glaser, MBA is an author and HRDQ president and chief executive officer. He holds a B.A. from Clark University and an M.B.A. from Villanova University. Since joining HRDQ in 1989, he has fulfilled several leadership roles in marketing and management. Black Bear was inspired by Mr. Glaser's thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail in 1992.